I was real glad to see Dean Mullaney at SPX. Weird But True, Dean almost published the Arf books 15 or so years ago at his Eclipse comics company. He and DC and Marvel and Dark Horse and Fantagraphics all said they wanted to publish Arf at the time. I decided to hold off . Anyway, Dean has recently plunged into doing awesome classic comic strip reprints for IDW. I interviewed him to find out all the great details.

1. Dean, where have you been hiding all these years?

In Key West, where I own two businesses — one graphic design, the other signmaking, and the 1889 building that houses them. All built up after the demise of Eclipse Comics left me flat broke.

2. I didn’t know you had such a boner for old comic strips.

Oh, yeah. In fact, when I started Eclipse in 1977 to publish the “Sabre” graphic novel, I looked through my collection to find a format I liked, since no one had published a graphic novel for the direct market before that. I found the inspiration in Ed Aprill’s great strip books — Ed used that fantastic, heavy uncoated paper. And, of course, I devoured anything from Woody Gelman and Hyperion Press. As a kid n the 60s, Dick Tracy was my fave, running as a full tab on the front of the NY Sunday News.

(click to order your copy)

3. Why did you start with Dick Tracy and Terry and the Pirates?

I wish I could take credit for Tracy, but I have nothing to do with it; the guys at IDW get all the kudos. I approached them with my imprint, The Library of American Comics, because I liked what they did with Tracy (and I’ve known Ted Adams since he was my circulation manager at Eclipse way back when). I started with Terry because . . . it’s the one strip I’d take with me to the proverbial desert island. Love the art, love the characters (ooh, Burma), but most of all, am mesmerized by the storytelling. The stories are what bring me back time and time again.

4. What one strip reprint that would probably be a complete financial disaster would you like to do if money weren’t any kind of issue?

I don’t think there’s anything you couldn’t get at least close to break even on, if you presented it well. In terms of “non-commercial” strips, probably the biggest bug up my ass is to do “White Boy” by Garrett Price. I’m only missing a handful to have a complete collection. Don’t be surprised if you see it announced in the next few months.

Annie meets Daddy

5.These Tracy and Terry reprints are so great. What’s next?

Terry 2′s at the printer, and Terry 3 and LOA 1 are in production. Next June we’ve got “Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles,” a whopping 11″ x 11″ 352-page hardcover with the complete Sickles Scorchy for the first time, some John Terry and Bert Christman examples and a whopping 60-plus pages of Sickles’ magazine and book illustration work, wrapped around a bio by Bruce Canwell, who’s doing such a great job on the Terry essays. A tip of the old hat to Andrew Pepoy for supplying most of the strips. I’ve got a couple of other books in the contract stage. I’m in it for the long haul, Craig!

In the beginning was Jesus. “The Adventures of Jesus” published in 1962 is considered by most underground comics historians to be the first underground comic. It was drawn by Frank Stack under the psuedonym of Foolbert Sturgeon to avoid persecution in conservative Texas where Frank attended the university in Austin along with fellow cartoonist Gilbert Shelton.

The stack of publications Stack (pictured above} has contributed to include The Comics Journal, Zero Zero, Blab!, Snarf and several Rip Off Comix anthologies. Stack was born this day in 1937.

Been counting the days till this post, eh? So, most of the adult Halloween parties were last weekend. I’ve been busy gathering the best of the best of the many Wacky Wonder Women that showed up tp parties flaunting their tricks and treats. So here for your ghoulish viewing pleasure are the Top Five Wacky Wonder Women of Halloween 2007. Coming in at a comely #5…

5.

This next reveler is a real cutie and that ain’t no banana oil! #4…

4.

There’s a lot to love about this next WWW, #3…

3.

This next party goer must have got top the fabric store to make her costume late. Sadly there’s barely enough material to cover her charms! #2…

2.

And now, the Halloween Wacky Wonder Woman, make that Women (I think) that you’ve all been waiting for. The top of the top supreme dream #1 (but who’s counting)…

1.

Happy Halloween Arf Lovers!

Did you know that while George Herriman was drawing Krazy Kat in the 20s that he was also amazingly doing another major comic called “Stumble Inn?” The comic was about a hotel owner Uriah Stumble. It started on this day in 1922 and went to January 9, 1926. Allan Holtz says of the strip, “for those of you who love Herriman’s artwork but consider Krazy Kat a little high-falutin’ for your tastes, this one you’ll really love.”

The Munsters and The Addams Family premiered within a few days of each other in 1964. Coincidence? Or something more?

(click for a closer look)

Both shows featured monster families and both had killer theme songs. However, only The Addams Family was based on the work of a cartoonist, namely the below pictured Charles Addams (natch).

After a gazillion one panel cartoons in places like The New Yorker beginning in 1938, the monster family created by Addams became known as The Addams Family and the world hasn’t been the same since.

I have a few different versions of The Addams Family theme song in my Comic Tunes archives, but it’s impossible to top the original.

(if no bar appears please click here to listen)

Celebs and their weight are the cover feature of a lot of magazines these days. But, before Oprah Winfrey and Nicole Richie there was Doll Man weighing in on the subject! Oprah: too much. Nicole: too little. Doll Man: just right!

Batton Lash, the talented cartoonist behind the terrific “Supernatural Law” comic book featuring counselors Wolff and Byrd was born today in 1953. Batton, animator Russell Calabrese and some other cartoonists and myself used to meet regularly for drinks in the early 90s in New York City. I was always sorry that we lost touch. I did get to catch up a bit with Batton and his wife Jackie Estrada at Dave Scroggy’s San Diego Comicon party last summer. Weird But True Toon Factoid: Batton and Russell and another artist used to have a studio in the building at 225 Layfayette St. in New York City-the location of the old EC comics office!

Geo. Herriman’s Krazy Kat started on this day in 1913. And there hasn’t been a better comic strip since.

Leo Baxendale was born in Preston, England this day in 1930 and went on to become a superstar cartoonist of the “Beano” comic book. Paul Gravett has explained to me that Baxendale is the Basil Wolverton of England!

Today in 1954 The Comics Code Authority was born. Boo! Hiss!

(click for a closer look)

I found the above vintage ad for the Code for my introductory chapter for “Clean Cartoonists’ Dirty Drawings”. The seal, which we’re urged to protect so that it can continue to protect us, was designed by the brilliant Ira Schnapp who was also responsible for designing the classic Superman logo to the Supermouse logo and tons of other great logos and lettering for comic books.